It’s time to have a conversation about our conversations.
In our experience, a vast majority of all of the marriages or committed couples we’ve talked too that “broke-up” or “divorced” had miscommunication at the root of that breakup. We ought to aim to try and save you that time, money and energy, and talk about how actually to have a hard conversation. According to the American Psychological Association, the divorce rate hovers between 40-50% of our population for first marriages, and it’s even higher for subsequent marriages.
Why? You may ask, does it seem like everyone is breaking up?
Everyone knows that “relationships take work!” and by this point, the 21st century, I’m surprised that it’s not offered as a tattoo you “need to get” when you take your vows; like the wedding photographer, “I know the perfect artist” for your obligatory “it takes work, tattoo“.
But how you decide to view that “work” is on you; it’s a matter of perspective. If you’re coming to the proverbial “table” thinking that relationships are hard and this work is going to be grueling, painful and annoying, you may want to check yourself and ask, how is this negative perspective going to manifest itself in my relationship?
Understanding The Process
Sir Isaac Newton, Physicist
For every action, there is an opposite or equal reaction.
I’m confident that you know about this basic principle of physics from Mr. Newton. What you may not know, is that this principle that governs objects in motion can also be applied to other things in life, like work. For example, you go into work every day, ready to earn your check, pay your bills, and reap the reward; your “actions” result in a positive net benefit = money.
Does it take effort? Absolutely! But isn’t the real gift in life finding something you love doing and being able to make a living doing it? Take that mindset into your relationship + action = reward concept we just outlined, and we’re willing to bet that you’ll find it much easier to “work” on your relationship. Your everyday actions and efforts in your relationship will result in an equal reward or benefit.
The Work
If you’ve recognized your differences with your partner, which probably started happening on date #2 or #3, then you know it’s easier to compromise or negotiate at the time you recognize those differences then it is to “let it linger.”
From the Cranberries Song, “Linger”
The work is not just showing up, the work is when you say, at an appropriate time, “I’m having a hard time with X” whatever X may be, and doing so in a reasonable amount of time from that event.
And…Don’t forget to bring donuts
Much like you wouldn’t just show up with one donut for the team at work, you also shouldn’t neglect to hand out some wonderful comments and compliments either. Remember, what you put in, is what you get out, and if all you put in is “I wish you did that or this” then you should expect to receive the same in return.
Let’s Recap So Far:
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Relationships are work but work and reward is what makes life living 🙂
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When something doesn’t feel right, address it then (appropriately timed) i.e, don’t address an issue you have about your kids in front of your kids.
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Compliment your partner when things are right, smile and repeat often. Verbalizing what your happy about, even as small as it may seem, has a GIGANTIC impact on how your negative criticism will be received.
Hard Conversations
And when the issues, arguments, or disagreements have not been addressed and have built themselves up, as they inevitably will, the impending conversation can be terrifying.
For many of us, it’s far too easy to act without confrontation because it’s natural not to desire to upset another’s feelings. It’s also completely normal to not want to start a conversation that may seem like it has no ending or, that the conclusion may seemingly be contrary. Typically, we ignore these confrontations and try and put them at bay, telling ourselves untruths about how much they upset us.
For me, this happened a lot; here we’re the signs I’d wish I’d seen earlier.
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I was incredibly non-confrontational
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I didn’t want people to be upset with me
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I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings
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I didn’t want to enter into a conversation where the ending may not be pleasant
So what was my solution?
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Ignore it of course
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Talk to other people about it
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Get their opinions
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Bury it deeper
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Become annoyed
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Feel it bubble up
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Start to be resentful
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Play out different scenarios in your head
Eventually, everything would surface at the wrong time, and then I’d never had another conversation about it again.
Anyone? Just me?
Burying it, explaining it away, brushing it off, is serving no one, ESPECIALLY not you. We need to get better at having conversations with people. And we do that by having them. Again. And again. And again. Until one day, when something comes up, it doesn’t have us ready to run for the hills instead of opening up our mouth.
HOW we should have this conversation.
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Find the right time: Clue: It’s not when your upset, tired or in a social situation with friends.
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Get in the zone: You must be in the right headspace. Calm, collected, centered.
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Signed Sealed Delivered: Be very intentional about how you want this conversation to go. It’s not an ultimatum. You’re in a relationship – not a prison and resolution is your guiding light. As long as you have that as your driver (resolution), then you’ll be disinclined to issue ultimatums.
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Empathy is your weapon: Be aware of your partner and how they receive these messages, what is the best way to communicate to them and how can you best set this conversation up, so they can hear what you’re saying. So they know this isn’t a fight, that they’re not being attacked so that you can continue this conversation to resolve.
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Preemptive strike strategy: In order to be the harbinger of peace that you are, you may need first to write what you want to say in a letter, so they have time to process before coming into a conversation. This is where you think about them, and what they’re going to need to hear what you’ve gotten the courage to say to them.
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Don’t Stop Believing! Keep having these conversations. How many marriages do you know that ended because of communication problems? How many of those problems do you think could have been solved, if someone was brave enough to start a conversation?
Why marriage counseling doesn’t work…simply put, because we haven’t had any hard conversations for so long that we feel like we can’t talk anymore, yell and scream at each other. It’s going to take two people who want to have some hard conversations and a damn good counselor to help find the middle ground, at least initially.
So, let’s be brave and put effort into our relationship that it deserves. If you’re sitting there dreaming of an incredible relationship, there’s an excellent chance it is sitting on the other side of that hard conversation you’re afraid to have.